The Ghanaian Woman as an Agent of Change in Ghana’s Development

Abstract

This study explores factors that contributed to the success of selected women in Ghana and highlights the strategies and motives of the selected successful Ghanaian women in empowering other women. Thirty women in academia, politics and trade were purposively sampled and interviewed on their lived experiences as they navigated their way to become successful women and agents of change in their workplaces and communities. A semi-structured, in-depth interview was utilised as the primary data collection method. Findings of the study indicate that like women all over the world, the challenge of combining domestic responsibilities with a career present Ghanaian women with serious constraints, but they find imaginative ways of successfully navigating their work spaces. In addition, the lived experiences of successful women in Ghana include having a happy childhood where they were allowed to explore their environments and develop their skills. Although others endured hardships during childhood, they were able to reconstruct the hardships as leverages to propel them towards success in their adult lives. Some also had to contend with pervasive sex-based discrimination and sexual harassment at the workplace. The study finds that when fathers are deeply involved in the lives of their daughters, it serves as a springboard to their future success. Finally, in serving as agents of change, the study found that women have three main motives for influencing change; working for the good of others, helping create better conditions for the next generation and giving back to society. In doing this, they employ strategies such as mentorship, active participation in their communities, pushing for female-friendly work policies and advocating for youth development. It is concluded that despite the vulnerable outlook with which discourse about women from developing societies are framed, Ghanaian women have and continue to work in phenomenal ways to bring development to their communities.